Letting & Estate Agent Podcast Why are Letting Agents so bad at training? - Ep. 2360
Oct 18, 2025
Why are letting agents struggling with training? Property consultant Julie Ford dives into the challenges, highlighting issues like financial fears and bad habits. She reveals how inadequate training harms compliance, customer service, and agency reputations. The podcast explores the impact of low-cost platforms on training budgets, the scarcity of specialized trainers, and how some view lettings as an easy cash opportunity. Real-world horror stories showcase the serious consequences of poor training, while upcoming regulations may force necessary improvements.
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Origins Shape Training Culture
- Many letting agencies grew from one-person businesses and learned roles on the fly, creating inconsistent training cultures.
- Julie Ford says this 'learn-as-you-go' model produces a Chinese-whispers of incorrect practices that harm standards.
Train Before Crisis Hiring
- Invest in training early rather than waiting until crisis hiring to avoid untrained staff spreading bad habits.
- Julie Ford warns that directors who fear investing may end up with 'untrained feral' staff causing bigger costs later.
Low Fees Create A Training Death Spiral
- A downward fee spiral lets landlords DIY or choose cheap services, shrinking agency revenue for training.
- Christopher Watkin frames this as a vicious circle where lower income leads to poorer training and worse retention.